In a major crackdown against wildlife criminals, the Bhubaneswar Customs Department intercepted an international smuggling gang during routine luggage checks at the airport.
The operation unravelled a meticulously planned scheme to transport endangered creatures across international borders.
Authorities discovered that the traffickers were using flights from Bangkok to Bhubaneswar as a conduit. During the security screening, customs officials detected live animals hidden in unconventional compartments—including animal shipments concealed inside luggage and even within biscuit containers. Among the confiscated items were king snakes, monitor lizards, and chameleons.
Officials from the Customs Department moved swiftly, impounding travel documents and detaining suspects. A prominent lead emerged from Tamil Nadu, where one individual is already in custody and further questioning is underway. Initial investigations have also uncovered links between a youth involved in the operation and a businessman from the Patia area, suggesting a wider network behind this illicit trade.
In a move to safeguard the rescued wildlife, the Customs authorities have arranged for the animals to be temporarily housed at Nandankanan. Meanwhile, both the Customs and the Forest Departments have launched parallel inquiries to trace the full extent of the smuggling network and determine where exactly in Chennai these precious animals were destined. Officials warn that the probe is still in its early stages, and further arrests may be on the horizon as the investigation deepens.
